It's just a bit.

 

Had a big cool Deaf event! My favorite one so far- a big BBQ where everything was 1 dollar! I was planning on getting like 10 hot dogs (for 10 dollars) but there were a lot of people there and I needed to prioritize talking to everybody. So I only got one. 

But it's OK! Because this Deaf event actually did wonders for me! I found out I actually know ASL! I understood everybody I spoke with, was able to make jokes, and everybody understood me! I felt very successful lol.

Somehow we helped at 3 moves this week and at all of them Elder Johnson and I played a game where every time you move something you have to make a pun. Needless to say, some of the other people helping out hurt their backs- not from lifting- but from laughing so hard.

Elder Johnson has a Laugh Track on his phone with a few seconds of silence in the end. So while we drive we put in on repeat and one of us has to give a one-liner before the laughing starts again. 

Elder Ardinger was upset and was signing at me aggressively and somehow injured his finger. Within minutes it was like 3× the size of his other finger. So I called the mission nurse and sent her the pictures and tried to explain how it happened and she got really quiet and was like “Elder Owens….stop interpreting….don't tell Elder Aringer this….ok?”

“...ok….(?)”

“I think….I think he needs surgery…please take him to urgent care right now. I'll call President Larson and let him know. Please please don't tell him…”

So im like “actually? For real?” 

And she explains something about tendons. 

So we go to urgent care and sit for 4 hours. Then got a xray and a doctor came and sat with us and said that ....everything was fine. He said to take some ibuprofen and everything will be fine in 1-2 weeks. 

Elder Ardinger and I had a fun lesson up at the Oakland temple with a Deaf Woman from Santa Rosa. She HEARD me pop my back (it was an insane back pop) so then for the whole lesson she kept telling me all about these different stretches you can do for your back while driving. Then when the lesson was over she literally got in our car, in my seat. Like she was gonna drive and showed me all the stretches to do while driving. 

Elder Ardinger could not keep it together and was laughing a ton. 

Here's a really bad thing that happened:

On pday we played pickleball. We took the paddles from our church building intending to return them that evening,

However,

We forgot.

Fast forward Thursday evening. We are headed to a giant cool Deaf event 45 minutes south! This is one we've been looking foreward to for a while. We get a call from the English ward mission leader about 15 minutes into the drive. He's mad. Really mad. And he wants his pickleball paddles. And he wants them now. They were having a pickleball night at the church. . . So, we're like “oh crap.”

We turn around and head back. And me, being my father's son, I grab the pickleball bags and walk into the church building where everybody is waiting for us and I shout “pizzas here!” Then run out of there.

Here's the phrase from psalms this week that I've been pondering “so will I sing praise to thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows” (psalm 61:8)

I think my vows are the covenants I have made with God. What does it mean to “daily perform” our vows/covenants? 

I think it means a lot more than remembering them or thinking about them. I think it's more than reading the scriptures and praying. I think those are important and maybe they're part of it. The word “perform” adds a feeling of work- like a hard task to do.

Instantly Moroni 9:6 comes to mind “. . .if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a LABOR TO PERFORM whilst in this tabernacle of clay”

My mind also, of course, thinks of a musical “performance”. Back when I was in middle school I was part of the orchestra. We had a few “performances” every year where we would “perform” some incredible music pieces. Now, if you were watching you'd be like “Wow! That was incredible!” 

But for us in the orchestra we had been practicing for at least a few months. We knew these songs like crazy. My dad already knew them just from how often I'd be humming them. So….are you ready for this? Stay with me…in order to “perform our vows/covenants” we must practice…a lot! 

If you haven't been endowed yet…practice living like you've already made those covenants. Study them often! Prepare every day.

If you have made temple covenants, practice living them. Practice creates habits. If you practice poorly you will perform poorly. 

If you practice perfectly you will perform perfectly. 

If you are preparing to receive the melchizedek priesthood, give diligent heed to the words of eternal life and magnify your calling now. Begin practicing being a valiant covenant keeper now so you can “daily perform your vows” later.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

It's all so real

 What an insane ride this past week has been. 

Visited some cool members. An old couple and their middle age single adult son who literally recited 40 scriptures while we were there. The old guy asked if we wanted a drink and I didnt want a soda (6 weeks too sexy) and so I asked if he had chocolate milk. 

He hopped up and pulled out some powder and a milk and stuff and while he was stirring it he told a story about some Indian (Native American, not curry) whom he took care of. this little boy always wet the bed until he started letting him have ice cream if he didnt wet the bed. Then he never wet the bed again. He must have got a little carried away with the story because he added an insane amount of the powder to the milk- like I had legit chunks in there- more powder than milk.

We visited one of our YSA friends and crazy miracle- he had just lost his phone the other day and was leaving on a trip to Utah the next day, he wanted to keep reading the scriptures but didn't have his phone so we showed up and literally the only time he was available before his trip and had plenty of copies of the Book of Mormon with us. Now he has one he can study! God truly is mindful of everybody- we did not know why we were visiting beforehand.

We left a book of Mormon with a recent convert in the ysa on accident and he was like. “Do you guys want it back?” And were like “nah its ok. We have a ton. Why don't you give it to somebody!” 

So 2 hours later he called us and told us he gave it to somebody he met at a store. Crazy.  

On Sunday during ysa second hour (second hour for them but 4th hour for me!) I totally fell asleep. Strangest thing happened- I've never had anything like this happen before- I woke up and legit heard in my mind “you need to offer Kate a priesthood blessing.” I'm not even fully aware yet so I kinda excuse it and we head for the doors to leave. Then Kate comes up to us and starts talking and instantly I can tell she's not doing well. 

So I'm like “Kate, I don't really know the answers. But I know God does. Would you like a priesthood blessing?” She totally starts tearing up. So we grabbed Bishop and headed into his office and I was able to give her a blessing. The Priesthood power and authority are so real. It's so cool that I get to carry a portion of God's power with me. 

The most crazy thing I've ever experienced on my mission happened this week too.

Here's the background: at the beginning of this transfer I went to a trainer training meeting. It was actually so good. Lots of revelation in there. Near the end they asked us “what are you gonna do? What will you do because of what has happened here in this meeting?” I, ⅓ joking and ⅔ seriously, answered that I was gonna take my trainee to a parking lot and make him go contact strangers. Everybody cheered or laughed which is what I wanted lol. Then that night on the way home, I'm thinking I actually do need to go to a parking lot and show him some stuff. 

As we were contacting there, we met a group of 5 teenagers from a catholic school. They were pretty funny and we had a good chat.

Now, at the end of the transfer, we got a referral from some guy named Pasqual. He answered his phone once and hasn't again so we just went over to his home. And a boy answered the door. He looked at us and was like “do you guys remember me?!”

My mind raced until I found him- it was one of the kids from that night! He was actually so happy to see us! Normally I don't think he'd have recognized us. It was dark outside when we met him first, and now it's been over a month since he saw us. We could not have talked for more than 4 minutes. 

But he remembered us. (John 14:26) He recognized us as soon as the door opened. Turns out Pasqual is his grandfather! 

Went to the temple last pday and learned something : always give invitations in a positive, not a negative. Meaning tell them to do something rather than to not do something.

For example:

Don't say : don't forget who you are

Do say : remember who you are

Don't say: don't let the Fire go out 

Do say : keep the Fire burning

Don't say : don't leave the church, don't go inactive 

Do say: become a life lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ 

If you are endowed, go to the temple and pay attention to how instructions are given.

Love you all, thank you for everything!

We were in a trio this week and I hated the third guy but learned a ton from him.

 That was fun. 

Starting last Tuesday I had the most incredibly awful growth on my forehead. It's funny because just a few days prior I expressed to Heavenly Father that things were starting to get easy and I was ready for a challenge, ready for something to humble me.

Then on Tuesday morning I awoke with a giant thing on my forehead. Dark dark red and absolutely awful. I didn't want to leave the apartment. I didn't want anybody to see me. However, we had district council and zone council. I tried to drape my hair over it-nope. Nothing could cover this up. 

District council was great. I hit the leviticus 5: 6-7, 11 and talked about what kind of sacrifice we are giving but also telling them as long as they're doing their best, their offering is accepted. 

That night all the Indians we talked to had to comment about the guy on my forehead and offer advice and tips on how to get rid of it. It actually hurt a ton and I was ready to just walk out. 

I think it's unfortunate how much my appearance really matters to me and those around me. It is so so great to be attractive and handsome and have people think you're cute- but it is so much more important to have a pure heart, beautiful personality, social skills, sense of humor, and strong spirit. I suppose that's what really makes us attractive- true beauty comes from the inside. I know I am a beautiful person. But having a lump of dumbness on my face made me feel pretty ugly even though I'm still the same person.

Anyways. 

We went to the temple and did sealings. THAT was a special opportunity. One thing I learned/started learning is that really the entire mission of the gospel is to help everybody receive the new and everlasting covenant and become part of the Abrahamic Covenant and know how to keep that covenant forever.

We visited the Gill family a few times this week and it's just so crazy. They have so many extra people living in their home right now. We try so hard to take control of the situation but there's SO MUCH happening! Neither me nor the guy on my forehead could focus. 

However, last night, I had enough. In the middle of the chaos I just stood up and was like “can everybody be quiet and can I get all the Gills over here. Please give me your attention for the next 15 minutes.”

Then we just boldly straight up told them if you want to be baptized you need to do all the things we have asked you to. If you cannot read the book of Mormon everyday then you will not be ready for baptism on the 16th. They nodded and said they'll do better. We started asking about how the Word of Wisdom had been going and just like that their extended family came over and was like “no tea? No coffee???” In hindi, but little did they know, both me and my constant companion, Elder Red Pimple-Mountain on my forehead have been studying hindi a ton and so I knew she was not saying very encouraging things. 

Then, like a legend, Sana shut them down by saying she knew what we said was true and she knew God had asked her to remove those things from her life. I'm so proud of her.

Sandeep offered a prayer and he pleaded for strength and help for his family to be ready by the 16th. Then he thanked God for sending 2 angels to his home. So sweet. I don't know why he said 2, we are clearly in a trio this week. (Elder Lewis, me and my friend on my forehead) 

They also gave us a ton of curry and I had a ton, afterall, I am eating for 2 right now.

The most powerful verse I found from the Old testament this week was 2 chronicles 20:12 I will cut it down so it's a little more simple but it says:

“[my] God, [I] have no might, neither know [I] what to do: But [my] eyes are upon thee” 

This is from king Jehoshaphat when a GIANT army of Ammonites is headed to them set on destroying them. Jehoshaphat tells everybody to fast and pray and this was part of his prayer. I think this is exactly how we should face trials. The most important part is that our eyes are upon God, we focus on him. 

Not that we don't know what to do or that we are powerless- but where our focus is. 

The story continues and the prophet Jahaziel tells the king that the lord is with them and nobody will even need to fight the Ammonites. His prophecy is fulfilled and all the opposing armies destroy each other.

Sometimes our trials are like that,but often our trials don't always end this way! Sometimes we actually do get hurt! Sometimes we lose! Sometimes we get a huge red Brother on our face!

“But our eyes are upon thee”

Jesus Christ makes everything right. He can take trials away, he can also help us through them so that they make us better. “His hand is stretched out still” we just need to look to him and trust his will and everything will work out.

I know this is true because I woke up this morning and my forehead looks normal. It's gone! It was a tough week and now i'm gonna wash my face even better lol but in the end- everything was ok!

Love you all!

Have a fire week and keep the fire burning (levi 6:13)

The Ark, 100%, and 2%

 

Elder Holladay’s migraines have been taking a toll on both of us. Probably Him more than I lol. We were home a lot this week so I was able to get lots of studies in. Being home and basically alone is not easy as a missionary. All I’ll say is as missionaries we tend to be at the top of Satan’s hit list and I was in a vulnerable position. Lucky for me, I’m strong.

We took Sana and her family to the Oakland temple and watched all their cool visitor center videos. Everybody was either crying or about to cry. After teaching about eternal families and showing them pictures of the sealing room they all set a goal to be sealed as a forever family in the House of the Lord. That was one of the most powerful special things I have ever seen. The spirit was so strong that whole evening. Every time I have been upset or annoyed since that evening I have caught myself and thought “We got Sana and her family to the temple- that's more important than whatever is bothering me right now” and it has worked every time.

And….that was really kind of it. But that's ok because the experience with Sana and her family was worth the whole week. 

I made a roux for some cheese sauce. We had no milk but I had already started- panicked,  I texted Meta AI and asked if there were any substitutes for milk in a roux cheese sauce. She said “chicken broth.” I didn't have time to boil some cubes or powder so I grabbed a can of chicken noodle soup and strained it and just used the broth. It worked. I mixed it in with some spaghetti noodles and had spaghetti and cheesy sauce. It was amazing! 

This week I read from the end of Judges all the way to the end of 1 Samuel. Very very good. I think one thing that stood out to me was the part where the Philistines steal the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4). Usually God just kinda makes it so that the Israellites win—except for when they are wicked. This was a point where they were wicked- so in the first battle they lost pretty badly and everybody was upset that God didn’t make them win. Somebody had a “wise” idea to bring the ark out to war with them because a long time ago Joshua brought the ark to some wars so they thought it was going to work for them again. It didn’t. If God was gonna win the war for them he would have done it the first time. The fact was that he wasn’t with them because they were wicked. So they brought it out and they lost pretty badly again and the Philistines grabbed the Ark of the covenant and brought it home and set it at the feet of their giant pretend god. (eventually they all got the bubonic plague and everybody was either dying or screaming in pain so they return the Ark along with 5 golden rats and 5 golden “emerods”[also some Israelites look at the ark with lust and so they all die])

Then some guy from the tribe of Benjamin rips his clothes up and puts some dirt on his head and runs around and tells everybody that the ark is gone. When Eli (the old priest who basically adopted Samuel) found out that the ark was stolen he freaks out and falls backwards out of his chair and breaks his neck and dies. Everybody was freaking out soooo bad and they all thought all was lost.

I tried to put myself in their situation- like if somebody bombed a bunch of temples or something like that how would I respond? Of course temples being bombed is different than the ark being stolen- but- I know that God is in control. Especially with the things that are His- like the Ark. So, I would've been ok. I would probably be a little sad- but I’m not going to assume that means God is angry at us or that he’s not real.

I was telling Elder Holladay about this and he helped me catch a way better lesson. I hope a lot of people feel the same way- like “oh ya-my faith is 100% set. Not even the ark being stolen would shake me.” Elder Holladay was saying “How are we ever going to be ok when something as drastic as an Ark being stolen- when we get upset at something a family member says at dinner? Or get offended by something someone does? Or get annoyed at somebody’s opinion?”

That struck me pretty hard. I think often we really want to believe we are willing to give 100%. . but we’re not ready to even for the 2%’s of discipleship and life like being a peacemaker, reading the Book of Mormon, showering every day, drinking enough water, waking up on time,  saving money, keeping our thoughts pure, doing family history.. . . . .

How are we ever going to be able to give 100%? Give our lives? If we cannot do these little things I choose to call “2%’s”?

There's something to consider as we start a new year.

Love ya!

Elder Gary Sabin the legend

 Well we got 4 new tires and an oil change. Then we went and filmed ASL videos all day long. Its so hard to come up with good ideas that would actually spark interest in somebody. Let me know if you have any lol.

Thursday was incredible. Elder Gary Sabin and his wife came and visited our mission! He is such a legend. He gave the talk "Hallmarks of Happiness" in the recent general conference. He had all these cute little phrases he kept saying. Some of them are: " Be the Message," "Wake up Excited," "Simplify, Testify, Intensity," 'Don't Postpone Your Happiness to a Later Date," "Catch Them Doing Well," "Celestial 'Steps," "What Are you Afraid of?," "If you Want to be Beautiful, be Good," "The Light is Always Green- and if it's Red You'll Feel it," "Don't Stress, Stretch"

He talked about how every single person wants to know the answer to 2 questions: "What happens when I die?" And "How can I be clean?" If they think they don't want the answers then they're lying to themselves. So I've been trying to focus my social media contacting, street contacting, and teaching more on those points and it has gotten better. 

He also told this really cool story about a man during the great depression who wanted a job as a Morse code decoder telegram thing person and he went in for the interview and saw that the whole building was full of people who were also waiting for an interview. Then he just got up and walked into the office where the man giving the interviews was! And he got the job! The boss and him walked out and he was like "ok everybody you can go home, this guy got the job"

And everybody was upset and saying "that's not fair! He didn't wait for his turn!"

And then the guy was like "Didn't you hear it? He was tapping with his pen on his desk in Morse code! He said 'If you want the job, come to my office right now!"

I think there's a lot of lessons to pull from the "Parable of the Morse code job". What Elder Sabin was trying to teach is that we need to learn to recognize revelation when it comes. I learned that I don't need to panic or fear when I know how to listen to the Holy Ghost as well as when the prompting comes- ACT.

One more thing he taught our mission was the 8 Ps of Peace:

Pray (child to father communication and relationship)

Page (scriptures)

Ponder (think about it!)

Patience (good things take time and accepting His will)

Play (have fun)

Purity (repentance) 

Pride (get rid of it)

Praise (complementing, lifting others)

Pretty cool.

Also I've been sick all week. So I'm sleep deprived and either coughing or holding back coughs or being grateful for relief. So that's been a blast. 

We went and visited Bertram and he gave us each a paper plate full of doritos and then we gave him a blessing. He promised he was gonna go to church but then texted us saying he was in the ER. Satan certainly is a stinker.

We started up ASL class again! This might be my fault for being pessimistic in my head, but, not a single person showed up. So I'll try to be optimistic next time. 

Church was good but I got a bloody nose during the linger longer so we left. 

We had a Stake priesthood meeting that was announced THAT morning! And we got to go interpret for it. Very fun. I am still confused on how my hands just get going and it all works out. 

We tutored at the Deaf School Monday night and I tried explaining Math In ASL. Oh boy! What a challenge! Poor boy was as patient as the kids that waited for the 2nd marshmallow in the marshmallow test thing. I'm very thankful for his kindness. He actually taught me way more than I taught him. (If I even taught him anything) 

It was all good though afterwards i was signing with the man in charge of tutoring and he helped me understand how to sign about math and what actually makes sense. So it was an obstacle but I just used it to grow so imma legend. 

Then we got 5 guys and I went all the way- got everything you can and it was Heavenly. 

Sorry if this email is reminiscent of Galatians 6:11.

Anyways- one really cool gem from the Old Testament I found is in Numbers 24:5:

"How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!"

Numbers 24:5

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/num/24?id=p5&lang=eng#p5

This is during the story of the talking Donkey, yes Balaam and Balak and cursing the children of Israel but then blessing them instead (like 3 times). During this chapter Balaam is seeing a vision and kinda just prophesying and there's this cute little verse. 

I've often heard "Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness" From the Bible dictionary and this verse is actual scriptural evidence of that. It's talking about their homes and their temples- both described the same way in the same verse. I know that it's true! Homes really are the only other place that can compare to a temple. Not church buildings. Homes. I think it's because temples are all about families. Sealing them together, saving our ancestors, learning about Adam and Eve. It all points to Jesus Christ, but a lot of it also points to families. And home is where a family is made and spends the most time together. I already know that I will do all I can to make my home like a temple. 

If you don't know what feeling that is then you need to go to the temple…A LOT. Make the temple feel like home to you so you can make your home feel like the temple.

Keep the Fire Burning (Levi 6:12-13) 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

Stressed and blessed

The ASL missionaries in the San Jose California Mission (9/6/2023)

Elders Howes, Johnson, Searle, Owens, & Porter

 

Thursday morning was a rush. We woke up early after going to bed mega late the night before. I was full of stress cuz we had to be at zone conference at 7:30, we were having vehicle inspections and sti had bird poop all over the car, I was going to be Interpreting for Elder Porter, and we were running outta time. After we left I also realized u had forgotten to shave.

So we pulled up at the closest open car wash, a self-service of course and just blasted everything with the ridiculous hoses. And then I drove 7 over the entire way. Which, Elder Johnson told me later, was terrifying. 

And of course, despite all my stress and anxieties, we were the first ones there and everything was fine. Interpreting was a piece of cake, we got a "good job" on our inspection, everything was great! 

President Larson is amazing. He was training us on the updated standards and turned it into a revelatory, faith building experience. 

We had another lesson with Christie, just ran through all the commandments and how the church works. She already knew all of it. And she's ready to be baptized this Saturday fs fs.

We went to In & Out and all the sudden a bunch of middle schoolers walked in. And then they all started moving their hands….it was the entire Deaf Middle school…with a bunch of the teachers too!

So we left the members that brought us there and just started introducing ourselves to everybody. 

Miracles.

Later we knocked on a random member's door whose name I didn't recognize- found out its cuz brother works on Sundays but he really wants to come to church. We offered him a blessing and he hesitantly said yes. Elder Johnson gave him such a specific and exact blessing I know the words he said were the exact things our friend needed. He also told us so- so then I knew it twice as well.

Miracles!

Saturday evening we had a meeting with a member of the ASL branch presidency- super exciting and also frustrating. Cuz we are starting a whole lot of new approaches to the work and we have so many ideas for how we want to do things and we're getting real support.

But also there's just this feeling of condescension that I cannot stand. We found out they have all been counseling about what the missionaries should do- without talking to us. . . ?

It was all great ideas and for sure things we will apply but it really bothered me that we were not involved in any of the choices or anything and they only talked to us after they had already made the plan. 

I recognize im 19 and barely understand ASL (but still I would like to be involved in choices regarding me)

Anyways!

I'm excited for the next chapter of ASL work. We have a branch missionary now, we're gonna go help newer members write their own talks for sacrament meeting, we're gonna visit every member and help them set goals and do a whole lot more sm work! Should be good.

We ate at the sikh temple. It was as close as food can be to 'bad' without actually being 'bad.' Still a super cool experience and I'm really happy I got to go.

Tuesday I was on a (somewhat needed) exchange with Zone Leader Elder Smalley, a pure legend. It was actually amazing to not be in charge for one day. He also knows everything about martial arts and self defense and he told me the 2nd best thing for self defense is a flash light, one of the obnoxious 2000 lumen ones (That's an exaggeration but it's pretty high up there) 

He also taught me alot about helping people learn for themselves from the source and not giving them our opinions or interpretations. 

Then this morning we were able to go to the temple. It was wonderful to be in the house of the Lord. I love the power that comes from taking part in ordinances. Recently our mission has had this cool thing where we take 5 words from meetings or lessons and make it something we can remember and use to apply the lessons we learned. I tried to do this with the temple:

"Consecration brings connection with God"

So this will be my theme for the week.

It's actually very effective and really helps me get a lot more out of my meetings.

So go ahead and do it. Try it with sacrament meeting talks or come follow me studies and then send it to me. I wanna see what you come up with.

Also pray for 1 of my companions to develop a testimony of obedience. Please. And if you have any tips on how we can lovingly encourage him to leave his nets behind and be a fisher of man instead lemme know. 

#blessed #blessedevenmoreforobidience

Love you all fr fr

The pizza incident among other things...

 We tried to order a pizza in Saturday and that was somehow one of the most difficult things that happened this week, and it was a hard week!

The delivery man called me like a hour after we ordered and screamed with a thick accent "are you at church?" 

We explained we were sitting in the parking lot of the church. After waiting for so long we were getting anxious so we were all spread out on different corners of the church, still within sight and sound. A few minutes later he rolled in with his Tesla and handed us 2 pizzas that were the pure opposite of what we had ordered so were like "Brother, um, where's the third"

I watched his heart drop down to his feet, and we assured him it's ok. And he ran to his car and frantically yanked the tickets out of his car and just looked back and forth between the 2 and said, once again in his wonderful Chinese accent "I delivered wrong pizza! Maybe they not yet eat"

He hopped in his car and was gone.

That means somebody received 3 large pizzas when the lyrics ordered 2 small ones and upon delivery. . .noticed nothing wrong. I can see him with a crooked smile telling our delivery brother "ah, yes, these are the 3 large pizzas I have ordered, yes…"

Well, eventually he came back with some more pizzas for us and we destroyed all of them in just a few minutes. 

That evening we tested negative so that's good. Still have minor symptoms but I guess we're good to go shake hands with 100 people every day now.

Church was good, I mean of course it was. Some random Indian walked into our English ward and our friend Pugal came and took him in. They're completely different Indians but they both like curry so they're still united. After church we taught David, our new Indian friend, the restoration and he loved it! I'm excited to see him grow. 

Then on Monday we went to district council and we discussed 'Zion' . I had a list of topics to study and assigned them out and next week we're just gonna share what we each learned and then we're gonna build Zion here in Fremont.

Then interviews with President! Ok, so some of you know about Sons of Helaman…? This was the life-changing incredible group I went to every Thursday night before my mission. It was all about Jesus Christ and his atonement and how to be free from bad habits, you know, like pornography and masturbation. Lately I just have not been able to stop thinking about getting something like that out here for my fellow Elders. I am very open about my story and recovering from addiction. And because of that I have had SO MANY elders reach out to me asking me for help. And there's only so much I can really do as a missionary. I don't have time to send out texts and prepare lessons and stuff like that, however, if I had permission from president to DO stuff then I would. So I requested it. And he said he loves the idea and wants to meet up again soon and Make a real plan and get stuff going. Pornography is the plague of our day. It's affecting just about everything. It's in movies, music, books, advertisements, clothing, memes, it's everywhere. And it all is prompting bad thoughts and bad actions. The world's ideas related to Sex and the body are wrong and these ideas are influencing many people.

Anyways. I really want to get some kind of weekly zoom call or at least a group chat where the elders can be accountable and honest and have others to connect with and support them. I've seen how much it has helped me so I know for sure it will help.

Reading the scriptures every day, memorizing hymns, working out, cold showers- these are all truly great ideas…but it's just not enough. You need to learn how to rely on Jesus Christ, recognize when Satan starts lying to you, and you really need a team. It's possible but incredibly more difficult without a team. 

Anyways 

Only one more cool thing happened and that was Christie. Christie has been attending church with her older brother who is already a member for months now. She has always said no to missionaries because her husband doesn't like her going to church already. Until 2 days ago. She referred herself and started texting us right away asking if we could meet the very next day. So set everything up and sat down in a classroom and she just started going off! She already knows everything and has been watching general conferences, studying the Book of Mormon every day, reading church history, she's been doing everything. She has a few things that make it really hard to focus. She said "I constantly have 17 thoughts and 9 of them are crashing into each other" but she shared with us she went to the Oakland temple and got to sit up on the rooftop garden and it was the most peaceful experience she's had in her entire life. She told us she just started crying and didn't understand what was going on and just felt nothing but peace. Wow. What a powerful and special experience! 

And that was the first time meeting missionaries. Everything up to yesterday was all done by her brother, a legend and epitome of member missionary work. Everybody can do stuff like that. 

God is really preparing people all over the place, regardless of everything, He's helping everybody come closer to Him. This includes that guy with a beard who yelled at us when we knocked on his door. 

Love you all, have a most incredible week! 

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Temple miracles

 A week ago we had the special opportunity to attend the temple. In preparation I had been studying repentance and forgiveness because I really wanted to feel clean when I went through the temple. We had also been praying to know which session to attend. Elder Searle and I both felt like we should go for the earliest one available. 

This ended up teaching me about the power of prayer because…we got there and there was a Deaf couple that attends a hearing ward going to the exact same session. I knew them from a long time ago so it was amazing to see them again. PLUS, we sat with the Brother and watched the endowment in ASL. How absolutely incredible is that? I understood all of it, in fact I think I got more out of it! So amazing. It was a wonderful and beautiful experience and I'm glad we prayed about when to go so that we knew that was the session we needed to be in.

Then we started a Hindi Exchange. It was great to be with my brother, Elder Holladay. We were looking around his apartment and….it's pretty bad. So we committed to cleaning it the next day. We stayed up incredibly late just talking about everything. Elder Holladay is amazing and truly consecrated. 

We woke up and just started going at everything. Luckily, the Zone Leaders showed up to do their laundry and decided to help us. We literally changed the color of the floor. We took out so much garbage, reorganized his apartment, killed the bathroom. It's now probably one of the cleanest in the mission! We also did personal and comp study with the zone leaders which was wonderfully enlightening. Then the Hindi work began. It was going pretty tough most of the day. Our Hindi members who were gonna help us let us know their hindinis actually rusty and that we can read better than them. And one indian member whom we've been trying to contact, we finally found! And somehow he's simply just not interested in the gospel at all. So we'll keep working on him I suppose. 

Then we went to visit some of our friends- Balwinder, Balwinder, Baljinder, and Sonia.

We showed them our video of the first vision (it will be posted sometime soon I promise) and they were blown away. Absolutely amazed. We taught the restoration again with a big focus on if this is all true, that means this is the church which you must join! I hope it went in their minds. They committed to reading and praying!

The Hindi work is progressing and I am so excited for it to grow more.

We went to Bombay Garden on Thursday. It's an Indian buffet where every food looks pretty sus. Nevertheless, we did partake. I was amazed at how spicy it was. We also learned how to eat like a indian- with your hands and the flatbread. A few of the curries looked so nice and then they're actually the spiciest thing I've ever tasted. What an experience. 

We have a new Deaf friend named Matthew. And I don't know what to think of him. He signs in ways I'm not sure what he's saying. But he keeps texting us and calling us. So that's good. (His texts make little sense) we were trying to teach him the restoration when we found out he doesn't know who God is. So I tried to explain. Man, that's a hard concept to explain. We tried "he made all the animals" he doesn't know what animals are. "He made the Earth" he doesn't know what that is either. We also said he was Heavenly Father and he was confused and was like "my dad is over there."

Also we've been reaching out to Deaf people all over Facebook and recently we've received many wonderful responses telling us that the "Deaf Community is all Gay and it's not worth your time to try and help them" and "they are all so rude you won't have any luck with them" 

I love social media work. 

Elder Searle and I made a work-out plan. Now everyday we know exactly what To do. We went for a few runs and it was great! I'm certainly feeling it. 

Then the rest of the week, somehow, all we did was give priesthood blessings. Most of them were in ASL. It was my first time ever sealing a blessing in ASL, then my second time, then my third time. We also found Sione Fonua From the other side of heaven. The real man. He is in a care home in our area and we were able to give him a blessing as well and brother just cried the whole time and said he loves us a few times. I'd never met this man or even seen the movie but after I gave him a blessing I was full of love for him. 

Then our friend Emma had a baptismal interview with our mission president. We waited for almost an hour but they both came out glowing and smiling so bright I wished I had brought my sunglasses with me. Emma will be baptized this Sunday at 1:30. 

She told us, in her thick Tagolic accent "I have finally found the right restaurant" I know she is right. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the right restaurant.

Then we got official transfer news. I'm training 2 new ASL missionaries. Elder Searle is training 1 new ASL missionary. We will all be I'm the same apartment and same areas. We will interpret everything for our Deaf Missionary. Their 4 combined ages in the mission won't be older than mine for 3 months lol. 

So that's exciting. 

Also you'll be happy to know I finally brought my suit to the dry cleaners. First time ever. 

And I did because….ElderBednarIsVisitingOurMissionThisSarurday!!!

I'll tell you about it next week!

अच्छा सप्ताह

 7-12-23

Wow. . .

Ok this week was one of the most legendary ever. 

We were walking to the car Thursday morning and I see the most Indian looking Indian ever so I'm like, Well I have to go over there.

So I go over and introduce ourselves and then pump out every Hindi word I know and she's just stunned. So stunned she responds in English and tells us she didn't live there but my Hindi is very good. Then comes over to give us handshakes. I turn to see her trying to give one to Elder Searle who's literally holding a monster sausage link from the Tongan Elders and so the most awkward handshake followed. 

But hey, she complimented my Hindi.

Also met a legend woman from India named Pushpa and we powered through the restoration and right after I recite the first vision she looks up at us and said "Joseph Smith had 2 men come answer his prayers just like how God sent you 2 to come answer my prayers" 

Boom. Spirit hit me so hard I may have gotten a bruise. She told us she'd been praying to find a church to go to. She loves Jesus Christ so much and moving to America just a few months ago was really hard for her.

That's why God sent us to her.

Then we drove to San Jose and filmed Elder Searles Testimony in ASL. Wow. He did so incredibly well! 

The whole drive there and back I was In a deep state of pondering. Considering my experience with repentance last week I really really just want to be better. I want to always have no desire to sin. So I just thought about new habits I can set up and who I am compared with who I want to be. It was enlightening fr fr.

On Sunday President and Sister Larsen surprised us by coming to ASL branch. . 

Also,  you know Tactile? Like Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan and signing in her hand? We have 2 Deaf Blind members and somebody has to tactile everything for them. 

I know ASL, I'm also super strong. So of course the obvious choice for tactiling is me. Usually we switch off but nobody else was there. So I tactiled all of church. Oof. My mind and body and everything was just- dead. But President and Sister Larson gave really good "talks" (signs?) 

Then we went to the Oakland Temple with our friend Emma for a temple tour. In the middle of the visitor center sisters lesson she turned to me and yelled "Elder Owens! I am ready!" 

She talked about how the spirit is just always telling her to go to church and she wants to go to the temple every day! So cool. 

Then I stole half the Hindi Book of Mormons (Books of Mormon?) the visitor center had. A musical director started signing really badly at us and tried to get us to Interpret for a musical we've already said no to 5 times. So we said no again. Then he asked again. We gave him our branch president's number and then he told both of us no. 

Deaf people are just incredibly picky when it comes to Interpreters and there's over 100 people 14X more qualified than me. And if I did the Deaf Community would just get upset. So.

As much as I wanted to do it, it's better if we don't and I trust President Peterson. So.  Then we were headed to the car and some guy yelled "Are you missionaries??" 

We are, so we said yes. He starts tearing up and explains he’s been inactive his whole life and he needs to become active so we helped him get in contact with the bishop of the ward he's in and some missionaries in his area and said a prayer. Hope everything goes well.

Next is the coolest thing ever. Embark is a language learning app for missionaries, like Duolingo but geared towards missionary work. I recently sent them an email asking for a Hindi course and on Monday I received many emails and texts and friend requests all from Emark Team People asking me about my experiences learning Hindi and all sorts of stuff. So I got Elder Holladay involved and we were just answering questions all day long. Basically they are amazed at how far we’ve come and are working on a Hindi Course to release “asap.” So we’re working with the Embark team to write curriculum and stuff for Hindi! Also, we’ve been working so hard on the first vision and feel pretty comfortable reading it, we just need to practice practice practice. I can't wait to have it memorized lol.

All of these Hindi things led to Elder Holladay and I doing the first ever Hindi Exchange. We learned as many prayer words as we could and prayed in the best Hindi we could, and then just went out and did Indian work all day. I know we're doing the right thing because we only saw 1 white person the whole day. Every single contact we made was with indians. All the Indians who usually aren’t home were home. We read from the Book of Mormon in Hindi with such power and spirit–it was amazing and truly exhilarating. The Indians' surprise and joy to hear 2 white teenage boys speaking in Hindi is so wonderful! We found so many Indians just by using our like 3 phrases and a handful of words. 

I know this is long and if you’re still reading I love you. But I wanna share a really powerful scripture  before I close lol. I was reading section 1 of Doctrine and Covenants, verse 23 says : “That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.” 

The footnote on the word “weak” leads you to “strength” in the topical guide. I thought it was beautifully poetic and powerful that this kind of “weakness” being described is actually “strength” wow. This is also the verse Elder Rasband quotes in his talk “This Day” and as he read the phrase “weak and simple” he places his hand over his chest, as to imply that's him. So powerful. You can do the rest of the pondering yourself to learn all the things I did. Dont wanna give you all the answers. But there's at least 2 hours of personal study (so far) to do on this verse and the relationship between “weak and simple” and “strength” and Jesus Christ. 

Love you all so much! Have an incredible week!

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